Me and Avis....
You know, "Avis Car Rental" as in "We're #2 why try harder?"
Yeah....so there is this way cool list on Facebook now: What to Read After 50 Shades of Grey. The top 50 books are tracked there based on actual sales and author/reader promotion on the list.
When it started it seemed like a great way to find a few more readers for my Stewart Realty series, which has a mild BDSM theme but does not beat it to death, so to speak, like some. It is neither the reason nor the driving force of the series but explores the psychology of trust in a loving relationship as relates to the trust required by all parties participating in bondage or sadomasochistic play. I will take this moment to thank Summer Daniels for putting the list concept together---you rock sister.
Floor Time: Stewart Realty Book one jumped onto the top 50 list and made its way into the top 10 by June. I'm proud to say that the book has remained at #2 bracketed by a couple of NYTimes Best seller types for many weeks.
This series is not for everyone as it pushes the boundaries of what could be considered formula romance while keeping an eye on the prize: the glittering, glorious Happily Ever After that is so a part of our jargon, the damn USA Today paper has an entire blog devoted to it, called "HEA USA Today."
Don't get me wrong. I will get you to the HEA, but not without some real work on the part of my characters, and of you as a reader.
I'm of a mind today to excerpt the first 3 books in the series--the "Jack/Sara centric" story that began the whole saga which has morphed into a 9 book series, 5 of which are released, the 6th due out Nov. 4 at a book signing here in my fair city of Ann Arbor, Michigan.
So....here are in order Blurbs and a telling VERY short excerpt from each novel.
FLOOR TIME
blurb: Jack Gordon is Ann Arbor's most delectable bachelor. At age thirty-five, he's made millions as a top-selling Ann Arbor real estate broker and has the right connections to close a deal by any means necessary. With his rugged good looks and compelling personality, he has a virtual black book most men would kill for and he uses it often, never settling for one woman for very long.
While his D/s past remains buried, exactly where he wants it, an undercurrent of boredom and dissatisfaction runs through his life now. A disastrous experience years earlier made him swear off the whole scene, but the more Jack suppresses his natural Dom, the more his frustration grows.
Sara Thornton, a rookie in the real estate game, has fast-tracked herself to the top of the Ann Arbor market. Her life reflects a disciplined and focused routine, exactly the way she wants it. However, as her career takes off, the fulfillment she seeks remains inexplicably out of reach. The one thing she knows for sure, she will not join the Jack Gordon groupies in her company, no matter how tempting that might seem.
A chance encounter, then a difficult transaction, throw Jack and Sara together and the sparks fly high and hot and often. Forced to confront the compulsions that gain momentum with each sizzling encounter, their relationship seems to spiral out of control until Jack finally admits what he needs, and shows Sara what she's been missing.
short excerpt:
"I can't give you much right now, Sara," he said against her skin. "But I promise you it won't be boring."
Sara ran her hands up his back, fisted her hands in his coarse black hair and kissed him, kissed him until she saw stars. He moaned into her lips, nearly bringing her to her knees. Rallying everything she had to resist, knowing she deserved more than one more casual fuck from this man, she gripped his upper arms, the crisp cotton of his shirt giving way under her hands.
"I'm sure you won't bore me Jack," she held him at arm's length. "That's not the problem." He stepped away from her, hands on his hips. Sara fought the strange urge to drop to her knees.
"Okay," he ran a hand down his face. "You win."
"I'm not trying to win," she moved another step further away, trying to rally anger or something to resist him. "I'm trying to retain something resembling my sanity."
Jack smiled at her, once again nearly melting what small bit of resolve she had. She stood up straighter. He stepped in closer, cupping her chin in his hand.
"I'm just as afraid of losing mine," he declared, making her skin flush. His lips hovered just out of her reach. "But I'm willing to risk it."
Fully realizing she could be getting the "worst thing" just as easily as the "best thing," Sara succumbed. Jack's lips, tongue, hands, body, she wanted them all, right there, and desire blinded every logical synapse she possessed.
"That's my Sara," she startled at his possessive words. "I know what you need. Let me show you." She nodded as his lips and teeth found her neck, sucked, bit down and made her yelp and moisture flood her panties. The deep growl of his voice, the way he gripped her, it made her weak and shaky, all reactions new to her in the arms of any man.
SWEAT EQUITY:
blurb
Jack Gordon thought he’d finally made it. He had a wildly successful career, money in the bank and even returned to his life as Dom, putting an end to a string of unfulfilling sexual encounters. Now that he's made the ultimate commitment to Sara Thornton, he believes all is right in their world. However, a series of misunderstandings and a dose of self-fulfilling prophesy bring his perfectly crafted house of cards tumbling down around him, forcing him to confront lingering misgivings about marriage and trust. Could those be the only two things he can never achieve?
Sara struggles with her intense need for Jack and her desire for less volatility in her busy life, two goals which appear to be mutually exclusive. Although willing to put in the time and emotional effort to make their relationship work, she finds it futile and frustrating, littered with clashes thanks to near-identical personalities and temperaments. Given Sara’s history, easing back into the comfortable status quo becomes easier than fighting a war with the one person who should be her safe haven. But will the easier choice satisfy her the way only Jack can? Is her "war" one that comes from without or within?
Buffeted by circumstance, temptation and distraction, Jack and Sara’s tenuous relationship crumbles, sparking a continuous quest for the ever elusive: trust, love and acceptance. By the time they rebuild a foundation for renewal, fate has other plans. This leaves them both reeling, once again questioning their destiny.
short excerpt:
She moved away, unwilling to discuss how much her late night conversations with Jack kept her going. Last night he'd told her about the disastrous venture to the BDSM club. She couldn't help but glare at the silly woman at his side.
"Then why in the hell won't you cut her lose Jack? If you're that miserable? I mean unless there are redeeming qualities…." She'd let her voice fade. Let him read between her lines.
He'd laughed; a slightly ugly sound that made her wince. "Yeah, I'm calling it off. But I already promised her we'd go to this game."
"You're stalling. For a guy who gets off on negotiation, who has dumped enough women to fill Michigan Stadium, you are sure being a pussy about Heather."
"Lovely. Thanks for the moral support."
"Sorry. Blunt. That's me."
"Yeah. I know. Anyway, I had to put her in a taxi and send her home from the club. It was a mess. Ever since she's been trying to force me to "punish" her, to control me with some kind of fucked up reverse domination thing. Christ."
"Topping from the bottom?"
"Well, somebody's been doing more research."
She'd grinned into the phone, pressed a hand to her mound. God she wanted him. So much. Needed him like she needed to drink water to survive.
"Are you touching yourself Sara?" His growly voice got lower, making her nipples harden in instant response.
"I'm not having phone sex with you Jack."
"I just asked a simple question."
She sighed; let one finger linger over her clit, suppressing a groan at the sensation.
"Are you? Tell me baby. I'll gladly walk you through it."
The compulsion to do that, to let him bring her to orgasm with his voice nearly made her cry. She yanked her hand away, sat up, and wiped her eyes. "No. I'm not. I'm gonna go now. Guess I'll see you tomorrow. At the tailgate."
"Yeah. Guess so. I sure would love to hear that sound you make again. The little one, right before you…"
"Stop it. G'night."
CLOSING COSTS:
blurb:
Love conquers all? Not likely, according to Sara Thornton. She's spent eight years coming to terms with the new parameters of her life while resigning herself to the idea that “happily ever afters” are best left to fairytales. Sales manager for her successful real estate office and juggling an added element of responsibility she never thought she'd face, Sara continues to struggle with the men in her life. Love, for her, has only meant hurt, broken trust and anger; all of which she’s completely banished from her life, so she claims.
Jack Gordon has come a long way since his early days of obsession with Sara. As the general manager of Stewart Realty, his own level of responsibility for the well-being of others has ramped up. He’s even honed his caretaking skills, now that he has someone who loves him unconditionally.
Continuing to invest effort and rebuild their relationship, he and Sara grow close as friends. Despite this, his ultimate question remains unanswered; the one he keeps asking, no matter how many times she says no. Sara isn't prepared for the keen focus of his need--to have her back, once and for all. Her stubborn resistance nearly rips both lives apart
The epic third book to The Realtors series, Closing Costs brings Jack and Sara truly full circle. Proving that the heat of lust and obsession; the need for control and to be mastered in many areas of life can lead to love — surprising you when you least expect it – if you will only allow it.
short excerpt (WARNING EXPLICIT!)
He sank onto the couch, draping an arm around her. She snuggled in close, forcing out all the guilt over how her need to do this thing as a mom "on her own" had affected so many lives. "Okay, I'm here. Well?" She closed her eyes when she felt his lips touch her hair.
She put a hand on his thigh, relishing the familiar musculature beneath his jeans. He shifted a little. "Listen, Sara, I don't know where your head is right now but…whoa…" Sara heaved herself up onto his lap, straddling him, her face inches from his. She bit back tears. Jack clutched her hips but didn't speak. "Okay if you insist." He cupped the back of her neck and pulled her in for kiss that started slow, easy, intimate, before turning into something much more as she pressed down against his hardening zipper. The room dimmed around her. A bright nugget of need blossomed in her core, making her gasp as Jack started getting serious with his kiss.
She threaded her hands in his hair, sucked in huge breaths of him, ran her lips across the rough rasp of his jaw, down his neck. "God, Jack, I miss you."
"Don't ruin this by talking," he growled in her ear, yanking up her t-shirt and flipping open her bra in one motion. He cupped a breast, holding it reverently almost, before lowering his lips to her nipple. The second he touched her, started lapping around the stiffened peak, she groaned and felt moisture flood her panties.
"Oh my God, I think I just came." He laughed into her flesh and gripped her ass with his other hand. The sensation of his erection against her brought fresh moans to her lips. "Do it again," she whispered.
"Sure you want to go here, Sara?" His eyes were like a midnight sky just as she remembered. "Because I'm not inclined to fuck and run." He groaned as she reached down to unzip him, fisting his hard flesh. "Although a fuck would be nice…Jesus!" He flipped them around so fast Sara squealed, putting a hand over her mouth as he dove back down to her nipples, caressing, sucking, licking, making her back arch, her entire body throb with need. She sensed his cock, near her, the pulse of their years' long connection swirling around them, making her head spin as he kissed her.
"I need this. So much," she muttered into his lips. He started to pull away but she gripped his face. "I need you, Jack. Please. I..."
"Say it," he growled, jaw clenching. She shifted her hips, tilted them so she could feel his flesh against hers. Tears stung the back of her eyes as he lifted up and away from her, his hand on the amazing shaft that she wanted inside her. She reached up and yanked him back down, her lips near his ear.
"I'm sorry. I miss you. I need you." He groaned and pressed into her, penetrating her in one long, smooth stroke. "God!" she cried out, wrapped her legs around him, met his every thrust, needing to feel every inch of his body against her, inside her.
"Sara," he whispered; his exhalations against her lips. "Look at me." She stared at him, the hard reality of their inevitable physical connection ramping up, making them both breathless. "I love you." He closed his eyes, thrust hard, shuddered, and came just as the world exploded behind her eyes. Her body clenched and pulsed with orgasmic energy. They continued moving together a few more minutes. When guilt rushed in to fill the void in her chest she shoved it back, sighed and kissed him, slow and easy. He slipped from her body, and sat, gasping. "Damn. I've lost my touch. What was that, five seconds?"
BOOKS 4 AND 5 ARE ALSO AVAILABLE (ya gotta read these in order though kids... trust me)
Essence of Time:
For years, Rob Frietag has resisted anything resembling a true emotional connection, preferring instead to explore life, and his own desires, without committing to anyone for very long. The reason remains known only to a few, among them Jack Gordon, his college cohort in female conquests, and life-long friend. At thirty-seven, while he is close to achieving his career goal, head chef at a five-star restaurant in Chicago, he is still very much alone.
After an intensely emotional relationship with Suzanne Baxter in Ann Arbor, Blake's heart is left shattered. Completely broken by what he believes was his one true love, he arrives at a Chicago food and beer festival, prepared to drink his sorrow away. When the two men meet, their lives change forever. But time is of the essence. When Rob acknowledges his true feelings, he will stop at nothing to keep them together, including finding a surrogate mother for the child Blake so desperately wants.
Lila Warren is recovering from a nasty divorce, needs cash and believes carrying their baby will fulfill her in ways marriage never did. None of them could suspect that the connection they share would provide the final emotional key to their life-long puzzle. When Rob’s secret is revealed, time becomes the one luxury they don't have, setting in motion a chain of events that destroys the fragile illusion of happiness for them, and everyone who loves them.
and Conditional Offer (my offering to all the TEAM CRAIG members out there):
Craig Robinson and Suzanne Baxter had no reason to meet, no real excuse to be friends. But when heart calls to heart...blood to blood...should two people who seem destined to be together heed the spin of Fate's wheel?
Craig spent years floating through life on cruise control, using directionless jobs, his rock band, swimming, and a string of older women in his bed to smother feelings of loneliness and loss. He finally thought he had found his true love in one Sara Thornton -- A sexy, beautiful, fellow real estate agent and mentor. But his self-doubt and innate sense of failure is only reinforced when he realizes her heart belongs to another man.
When Sara introduces him to Suzanne, a woman fighting her own demons from an abusive marriage and subsequent feelings of inadequacy and deep unhappiness, that simple, chance moment snaps Craig's hazy existence into crystal-clear focus. A bond of instant physical attraction, nurtured by time and shared experience, and plenty of erotic energy, is born.
As Suzanne's past continues to haunt her, making her push Craig away just as he thinks he’s getting closer, each of them must come to terms with their true selves and face their ultimate realities.
FINALLY A FUN GIFT FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO MADE IT THIS FAR DOWN THE POST:
an excerpt from the upcoming Escalation Clause: Stewart Realty Book 6
blurb:
Young love burns hot and bright. Soul mates are found, then lost in the blink of an eye. When young widow Maureen Gordon Taylor meets her daughter's sexy soccer coach, her body and heart slowly thaw. But will holding tight to the past cost her a future?
A devastating blow shatters a family's fragile happiness. Rob Freitag and Lila Warren now confront life without the emotional glue that once bound them, but a shared goal brings them back together. Is it enough to make them whole again and become the family they were meant to be?
Mutual trust is hard won for the Gordons. Then tragedy strikes, sending Jack and Sara’s lives into a tailspin. To keep her family from falling apart, she must force Jack to admit his deepest fears. After everything they’ve been through, can they revive the spark and move to the next stage of marital fulfillment?
The sweeping saga of the Stewart Realty series continues as long-time friends learn to rely on each other, and to grab hold of happiness before it's too late.
You could win a SIGNED ARC of this book: click on the www.lizcrowe.com site and the "2012 contest" tab! My publisher will also be offering an ARC copy (unsigned, alas) beginning Wednesday, Oct. 17....stay tuned here for more details on that.
And now, the excerpt:
<!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} span.msoIns {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-style-name:""; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single; color:teal;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} @page WordSection1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;} </style><br />--> <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;">She stood, wobbly, and on the verge of jumping him in front of the kids and her friend. She looked over her shoulder. Lila had guided everybody into the kitchen<span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:jt" datetime="2012-09-30T12:39">,</ins></span> and it sounded like they were making pancakes. She looked down at her husband. “What is this about Jack? Talk? Or Fucking? Because you know what I—”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;">He grabbed her hand and put it on his zipper.<span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:jt" datetime="2012-09-30T12:39"> </ins></span>She bit her lip at the familiar hard girth of his sex. “Both.” He said, cupping her neck and tugging her close. The kiss was just a ghost of one, nothing like he normally gave. However, having gone without any of it for so long, it felt like the most intimate connection they’d ever made. He ran his thumb over her lips.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;">“I have a meeting.” She exhaled. It was the truth.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Cancel it,” his voice was low.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;">She stood, shook her hair back. “As long as you are prepared to really talk to me.” She crossed her arms, mainly so he would not see how shaky she was.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;">“I am.” He got to his feet, stood within centimeters of her, but didn’t touch her. The chemistry of their long-running relationship filled the air, making her breathless. She reached out first, put a hand to his rough cheek. His eyes stayed flat, but then he smiled. “I promise, I will.” He kissed her for real then, holding her close, cupping her breast under the silk blouse, shoving<span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:jt" datetime="2012-09-30T12:39"> </ins></span>a thigh between her legs. It was amazing, erotic, and then, it was over. He let her go, and walked to the bedroom. She clutched the back of the couch to keep from falling straight to the hardwood floor. When she heard the shower start, she grabbed her purse and phone.</span></span></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"> cheers and have a GREAT WEEKEND! </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Go Blue</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Liz </span><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com...' alt='' /></div>
Yeah....so there is this way cool list on Facebook now: What to Read After 50 Shades of Grey. The top 50 books are tracked there based on actual sales and author/reader promotion on the list.
When it started it seemed like a great way to find a few more readers for my Stewart Realty series, which has a mild BDSM theme but does not beat it to death, so to speak, like some. It is neither the reason nor the driving force of the series but explores the psychology of trust in a loving relationship as relates to the trust required by all parties participating in bondage or sadomasochistic play. I will take this moment to thank Summer Daniels for putting the list concept together---you rock sister.
Floor Time: Stewart Realty Book one jumped onto the top 50 list and made its way into the top 10 by June. I'm proud to say that the book has remained at #2 bracketed by a couple of NYTimes Best seller types for many weeks.
This series is not for everyone as it pushes the boundaries of what could be considered formula romance while keeping an eye on the prize: the glittering, glorious Happily Ever After that is so a part of our jargon, the damn USA Today paper has an entire blog devoted to it, called "HEA USA Today."
Don't get me wrong. I will get you to the HEA, but not without some real work on the part of my characters, and of you as a reader.
I'm of a mind today to excerpt the first 3 books in the series--the "Jack/Sara centric" story that began the whole saga which has morphed into a 9 book series, 5 of which are released, the 6th due out Nov. 4 at a book signing here in my fair city of Ann Arbor, Michigan.
So....here are in order Blurbs and a telling VERY short excerpt from each novel.
FLOOR TIME
blurb: Jack Gordon is Ann Arbor's most delectable bachelor. At age thirty-five, he's made millions as a top-selling Ann Arbor real estate broker and has the right connections to close a deal by any means necessary. With his rugged good looks and compelling personality, he has a virtual black book most men would kill for and he uses it often, never settling for one woman for very long.
While his D/s past remains buried, exactly where he wants it, an undercurrent of boredom and dissatisfaction runs through his life now. A disastrous experience years earlier made him swear off the whole scene, but the more Jack suppresses his natural Dom, the more his frustration grows.
Sara Thornton, a rookie in the real estate game, has fast-tracked herself to the top of the Ann Arbor market. Her life reflects a disciplined and focused routine, exactly the way she wants it. However, as her career takes off, the fulfillment she seeks remains inexplicably out of reach. The one thing she knows for sure, she will not join the Jack Gordon groupies in her company, no matter how tempting that might seem.
A chance encounter, then a difficult transaction, throw Jack and Sara together and the sparks fly high and hot and often. Forced to confront the compulsions that gain momentum with each sizzling encounter, their relationship seems to spiral out of control until Jack finally admits what he needs, and shows Sara what she's been missing.
short excerpt:
"I can't give you much right now, Sara," he said against her skin. "But I promise you it won't be boring."
Sara ran her hands up his back, fisted her hands in his coarse black hair and kissed him, kissed him until she saw stars. He moaned into her lips, nearly bringing her to her knees. Rallying everything she had to resist, knowing she deserved more than one more casual fuck from this man, she gripped his upper arms, the crisp cotton of his shirt giving way under her hands.
"I'm sure you won't bore me Jack," she held him at arm's length. "That's not the problem." He stepped away from her, hands on his hips. Sara fought the strange urge to drop to her knees.
"Okay," he ran a hand down his face. "You win."
"I'm not trying to win," she moved another step further away, trying to rally anger or something to resist him. "I'm trying to retain something resembling my sanity."
Jack smiled at her, once again nearly melting what small bit of resolve she had. She stood up straighter. He stepped in closer, cupping her chin in his hand.
"I'm just as afraid of losing mine," he declared, making her skin flush. His lips hovered just out of her reach. "But I'm willing to risk it."
Fully realizing she could be getting the "worst thing" just as easily as the "best thing," Sara succumbed. Jack's lips, tongue, hands, body, she wanted them all, right there, and desire blinded every logical synapse she possessed.
"That's my Sara," she startled at his possessive words. "I know what you need. Let me show you." She nodded as his lips and teeth found her neck, sucked, bit down and made her yelp and moisture flood her panties. The deep growl of his voice, the way he gripped her, it made her weak and shaky, all reactions new to her in the arms of any man.
SWEAT EQUITY:
blurb
Jack Gordon thought he’d finally made it. He had a wildly successful career, money in the bank and even returned to his life as Dom, putting an end to a string of unfulfilling sexual encounters. Now that he's made the ultimate commitment to Sara Thornton, he believes all is right in their world. However, a series of misunderstandings and a dose of self-fulfilling prophesy bring his perfectly crafted house of cards tumbling down around him, forcing him to confront lingering misgivings about marriage and trust. Could those be the only two things he can never achieve?
Sara struggles with her intense need for Jack and her desire for less volatility in her busy life, two goals which appear to be mutually exclusive. Although willing to put in the time and emotional effort to make their relationship work, she finds it futile and frustrating, littered with clashes thanks to near-identical personalities and temperaments. Given Sara’s history, easing back into the comfortable status quo becomes easier than fighting a war with the one person who should be her safe haven. But will the easier choice satisfy her the way only Jack can? Is her "war" one that comes from without or within?
Buffeted by circumstance, temptation and distraction, Jack and Sara’s tenuous relationship crumbles, sparking a continuous quest for the ever elusive: trust, love and acceptance. By the time they rebuild a foundation for renewal, fate has other plans. This leaves them both reeling, once again questioning their destiny.
short excerpt:
She moved away, unwilling to discuss how much her late night conversations with Jack kept her going. Last night he'd told her about the disastrous venture to the BDSM club. She couldn't help but glare at the silly woman at his side.
"Then why in the hell won't you cut her lose Jack? If you're that miserable? I mean unless there are redeeming qualities…." She'd let her voice fade. Let him read between her lines.
He'd laughed; a slightly ugly sound that made her wince. "Yeah, I'm calling it off. But I already promised her we'd go to this game."
"You're stalling. For a guy who gets off on negotiation, who has dumped enough women to fill Michigan Stadium, you are sure being a pussy about Heather."
"Lovely. Thanks for the moral support."
"Sorry. Blunt. That's me."
"Yeah. I know. Anyway, I had to put her in a taxi and send her home from the club. It was a mess. Ever since she's been trying to force me to "punish" her, to control me with some kind of fucked up reverse domination thing. Christ."
"Topping from the bottom?"
"Well, somebody's been doing more research."
She'd grinned into the phone, pressed a hand to her mound. God she wanted him. So much. Needed him like she needed to drink water to survive.
"Are you touching yourself Sara?" His growly voice got lower, making her nipples harden in instant response.
"I'm not having phone sex with you Jack."
"I just asked a simple question."
She sighed; let one finger linger over her clit, suppressing a groan at the sensation.
"Are you? Tell me baby. I'll gladly walk you through it."
The compulsion to do that, to let him bring her to orgasm with his voice nearly made her cry. She yanked her hand away, sat up, and wiped her eyes. "No. I'm not. I'm gonna go now. Guess I'll see you tomorrow. At the tailgate."
"Yeah. Guess so. I sure would love to hear that sound you make again. The little one, right before you…"
"Stop it. G'night."
CLOSING COSTS:
blurb:
Love conquers all? Not likely, according to Sara Thornton. She's spent eight years coming to terms with the new parameters of her life while resigning herself to the idea that “happily ever afters” are best left to fairytales. Sales manager for her successful real estate office and juggling an added element of responsibility she never thought she'd face, Sara continues to struggle with the men in her life. Love, for her, has only meant hurt, broken trust and anger; all of which she’s completely banished from her life, so she claims.
Jack Gordon has come a long way since his early days of obsession with Sara. As the general manager of Stewart Realty, his own level of responsibility for the well-being of others has ramped up. He’s even honed his caretaking skills, now that he has someone who loves him unconditionally.
Continuing to invest effort and rebuild their relationship, he and Sara grow close as friends. Despite this, his ultimate question remains unanswered; the one he keeps asking, no matter how many times she says no. Sara isn't prepared for the keen focus of his need--to have her back, once and for all. Her stubborn resistance nearly rips both lives apart
The epic third book to The Realtors series, Closing Costs brings Jack and Sara truly full circle. Proving that the heat of lust and obsession; the need for control and to be mastered in many areas of life can lead to love — surprising you when you least expect it – if you will only allow it.
short excerpt (WARNING EXPLICIT!)
He sank onto the couch, draping an arm around her. She snuggled in close, forcing out all the guilt over how her need to do this thing as a mom "on her own" had affected so many lives. "Okay, I'm here. Well?" She closed her eyes when she felt his lips touch her hair.
She put a hand on his thigh, relishing the familiar musculature beneath his jeans. He shifted a little. "Listen, Sara, I don't know where your head is right now but…whoa…" Sara heaved herself up onto his lap, straddling him, her face inches from his. She bit back tears. Jack clutched her hips but didn't speak. "Okay if you insist." He cupped the back of her neck and pulled her in for kiss that started slow, easy, intimate, before turning into something much more as she pressed down against his hardening zipper. The room dimmed around her. A bright nugget of need blossomed in her core, making her gasp as Jack started getting serious with his kiss.
She threaded her hands in his hair, sucked in huge breaths of him, ran her lips across the rough rasp of his jaw, down his neck. "God, Jack, I miss you."
"Don't ruin this by talking," he growled in her ear, yanking up her t-shirt and flipping open her bra in one motion. He cupped a breast, holding it reverently almost, before lowering his lips to her nipple. The second he touched her, started lapping around the stiffened peak, she groaned and felt moisture flood her panties.
"Oh my God, I think I just came." He laughed into her flesh and gripped her ass with his other hand. The sensation of his erection against her brought fresh moans to her lips. "Do it again," she whispered.
"Sure you want to go here, Sara?" His eyes were like a midnight sky just as she remembered. "Because I'm not inclined to fuck and run." He groaned as she reached down to unzip him, fisting his hard flesh. "Although a fuck would be nice…Jesus!" He flipped them around so fast Sara squealed, putting a hand over her mouth as he dove back down to her nipples, caressing, sucking, licking, making her back arch, her entire body throb with need. She sensed his cock, near her, the pulse of their years' long connection swirling around them, making her head spin as he kissed her.
"I need this. So much," she muttered into his lips. He started to pull away but she gripped his face. "I need you, Jack. Please. I..."
"Say it," he growled, jaw clenching. She shifted her hips, tilted them so she could feel his flesh against hers. Tears stung the back of her eyes as he lifted up and away from her, his hand on the amazing shaft that she wanted inside her. She reached up and yanked him back down, her lips near his ear.
"I'm sorry. I miss you. I need you." He groaned and pressed into her, penetrating her in one long, smooth stroke. "God!" she cried out, wrapped her legs around him, met his every thrust, needing to feel every inch of his body against her, inside her.
"Sara," he whispered; his exhalations against her lips. "Look at me." She stared at him, the hard reality of their inevitable physical connection ramping up, making them both breathless. "I love you." He closed his eyes, thrust hard, shuddered, and came just as the world exploded behind her eyes. Her body clenched and pulsed with orgasmic energy. They continued moving together a few more minutes. When guilt rushed in to fill the void in her chest she shoved it back, sighed and kissed him, slow and easy. He slipped from her body, and sat, gasping. "Damn. I've lost my touch. What was that, five seconds?"
BOOKS 4 AND 5 ARE ALSO AVAILABLE (ya gotta read these in order though kids... trust me)
Essence of Time:
For years, Rob Frietag has resisted anything resembling a true emotional connection, preferring instead to explore life, and his own desires, without committing to anyone for very long. The reason remains known only to a few, among them Jack Gordon, his college cohort in female conquests, and life-long friend. At thirty-seven, while he is close to achieving his career goal, head chef at a five-star restaurant in Chicago, he is still very much alone.
After an intensely emotional relationship with Suzanne Baxter in Ann Arbor, Blake's heart is left shattered. Completely broken by what he believes was his one true love, he arrives at a Chicago food and beer festival, prepared to drink his sorrow away. When the two men meet, their lives change forever. But time is of the essence. When Rob acknowledges his true feelings, he will stop at nothing to keep them together, including finding a surrogate mother for the child Blake so desperately wants.
Lila Warren is recovering from a nasty divorce, needs cash and believes carrying their baby will fulfill her in ways marriage never did. None of them could suspect that the connection they share would provide the final emotional key to their life-long puzzle. When Rob’s secret is revealed, time becomes the one luxury they don't have, setting in motion a chain of events that destroys the fragile illusion of happiness for them, and everyone who loves them.
and Conditional Offer (my offering to all the TEAM CRAIG members out there):
Craig Robinson and Suzanne Baxter had no reason to meet, no real excuse to be friends. But when heart calls to heart...blood to blood...should two people who seem destined to be together heed the spin of Fate's wheel?
Craig spent years floating through life on cruise control, using directionless jobs, his rock band, swimming, and a string of older women in his bed to smother feelings of loneliness and loss. He finally thought he had found his true love in one Sara Thornton -- A sexy, beautiful, fellow real estate agent and mentor. But his self-doubt and innate sense of failure is only reinforced when he realizes her heart belongs to another man.
When Sara introduces him to Suzanne, a woman fighting her own demons from an abusive marriage and subsequent feelings of inadequacy and deep unhappiness, that simple, chance moment snaps Craig's hazy existence into crystal-clear focus. A bond of instant physical attraction, nurtured by time and shared experience, and plenty of erotic energy, is born.
As Suzanne's past continues to haunt her, making her push Craig away just as he thinks he’s getting closer, each of them must come to terms with their true selves and face their ultimate realities.
FINALLY A FUN GIFT FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO MADE IT THIS FAR DOWN THE POST:
an excerpt from the upcoming Escalation Clause: Stewart Realty Book 6
blurb:
Young love burns hot and bright. Soul mates are found, then lost in the blink of an eye. When young widow Maureen Gordon Taylor meets her daughter's sexy soccer coach, her body and heart slowly thaw. But will holding tight to the past cost her a future?
A devastating blow shatters a family's fragile happiness. Rob Freitag and Lila Warren now confront life without the emotional glue that once bound them, but a shared goal brings them back together. Is it enough to make them whole again and become the family they were meant to be?
Mutual trust is hard won for the Gordons. Then tragedy strikes, sending Jack and Sara’s lives into a tailspin. To keep her family from falling apart, she must force Jack to admit his deepest fears. After everything they’ve been through, can they revive the spark and move to the next stage of marital fulfillment?
The sweeping saga of the Stewart Realty series continues as long-time friends learn to rely on each other, and to grab hold of happiness before it's too late.
You could win a SIGNED ARC of this book: click on the www.lizcrowe.com site and the "2012 contest" tab! My publisher will also be offering an ARC copy (unsigned, alas) beginning Wednesday, Oct. 17....stay tuned here for more details on that.
And now, the excerpt:
<!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} span.msoIns {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-style-name:""; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single; color:teal;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} @page WordSection1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;} </style><br />--> <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;">She stood, wobbly, and on the verge of jumping him in front of the kids and her friend. She looked over her shoulder. Lila had guided everybody into the kitchen<span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:jt" datetime="2012-09-30T12:39">,</ins></span> and it sounded like they were making pancakes. She looked down at her husband. “What is this about Jack? Talk? Or Fucking? Because you know what I—”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;">He grabbed her hand and put it on his zipper.<span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:jt" datetime="2012-09-30T12:39"> </ins></span>She bit her lip at the familiar hard girth of his sex. “Both.” He said, cupping her neck and tugging her close. The kiss was just a ghost of one, nothing like he normally gave. However, having gone without any of it for so long, it felt like the most intimate connection they’d ever made. He ran his thumb over her lips.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;">“I have a meeting.” She exhaled. It was the truth.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Cancel it,” his voice was low.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;">She stood, shook her hair back. “As long as you are prepared to really talk to me.” She crossed her arms, mainly so he would not see how shaky she was.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;">“I am.” He got to his feet, stood within centimeters of her, but didn’t touch her. The chemistry of their long-running relationship filled the air, making her breathless. She reached out first, put a hand to his rough cheek. His eyes stayed flat, but then he smiled. “I promise, I will.” He kissed her for real then, holding her close, cupping her breast under the silk blouse, shoving<span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:jt" datetime="2012-09-30T12:39"> </ins></span>a thigh between her legs. It was amazing, erotic, and then, it was over. He let her go, and walked to the bedroom. She clutched the back of the couch to keep from falling straight to the hardwood floor. When she heard the shower start, she grabbed her purse and phone.</span></span></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"> cheers and have a GREAT WEEKEND! </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Go Blue</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Liz </span><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com...' alt='' /></div>
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